36. David
36
DAVID
Machines beeped and the doctor coached and coaxed, but Lauren’s grip on my hand was so tight I thought she’d break bones. “Come on, baby, you can do it.” I leaned over her, mopping her head with a moist paper towel the nurse provided earlier. She was in so much pain, but she’d chosen natural childbirth instead of the epidural.
“I’m going to murder you!” she screeched through gritted teeth. I didn’t doubt her for a second right now, though I knew when this was all over and we had our little baby in our arms, she’d change her mind.
“Alright, Lauren, you can do that later. Right now, you need to tuck that chin and push.” The doctor was a pro at redirecting her pain-induced anger back into something productive.
Lauren grunted and sucked in a deep breath, bearing down. I wished I could take some of this away from her, but I could only be there for her. The road to where we were now had been bumpy at times, but we stood on a very solid foundation now, one I was happy to build upon with her, starting with our baby.
“I see the head. Almost there, one more big push!” the doctor said, anticipation growing in his voice. He turned and mumbled off a half-dozen orders to the nurses, who began moving equipment and towels. The room erupted into a flurry of activity as the nurses flitted about heeding the doctors commands. I focused on my beautiful wife to be as she whimpered.
That was all Lauren needed to hear. She pushed with all her might and let out a blood-curdling scream that must have woken up half the hospital. Her grip on my hand got tighter and she curled around her belly. And then, a tiny, squawking bundle of fright and anger was placed on her chest. The baby wailed a loud, healthy scream, kicking and waving her arms, and Lauren sobbed. I kissed her forehead, leaving room for the nurses to step up and start wiping the baby clean.
“It’s a—” the doctor started, but Lauren beat him to it.
“Girl.” She grinned at me over our newborn daughter's head. Her eyes sparkled with emotion, as did mine. I didn’t even try to fight the tears that came. This little bundle of perfection was everything I’d ever wanted.
“She’s amazing. Lauren, you did so well.” My chest was so full, pride and joy making it swell. Time seemed to stand still for us.
"Oh, God… I'm so tired and cold." Lauren started shaking, and the nurses were right there, draping warm blankets over her. We had the baby weighed and measured, some blood tests done, the umbilical cord cut, and finally, they swaddled her and handed her to me.
Everything happened so quickly, I hardly noticed that an hour had passed when finally, the doctor shook my hand firmly. "Well, Dr. Park, your family is all yours. I'm heading home for the night, but I’m fairly certain you have a few visitors waiting. Should I send them in?"
I glanced at Lauren, who lay in bed struggling to keep her eyes open. I knew she would be disappointed if I sent them away, so I nodded. "Yes, for a short time," I told him, and he left the room. The remaining nurses followed, and moments later, a light knock came at the door.
"Come in," I called softly. Lauren was already dozing.
When the door swung open, Amber was the first face I saw. She and Jason had been dating now for six months, and things were getting serious. He offered to give up his bedroom for making a nursery, and Amber invited him to move in. It was sweet to see their budding romance. I hoped for his sake that it worked out. He'd done so well with his recovery. It was a true miracle.
"Oh, my God," Amber squealed quietly and tiptoed over to me with outstretched arms. "She's so tiny!"
"Five pounds, seven ounces, eighteen inches long." I spouted off the facts like a proud father and shot my hand out to shake Jason's hand. But he pulled me in for a tight hug and slapped my back.
"Congrats, Pops," he said, and I heard the cheeky tone he used. I'd forever be the old guy who helped save his life, and I was okay with that.
"Watch it, Sonny," I told him and pulled away.
"Remember, you hurt my sister, I hurt you." It was always banter and fun with him, and I loved it.
Movement near the door caught my eye, and I looked up to see Lexi walking in. She carried a tiny teddy bear and held the string to a balloon tightly in her fist.
"Dad…" Her smile was more beautiful than anything I'd ever seen. "Jason called me…" In town for spring break instead of going to a tropical location with her friends, I was honored that she'd come here.
"Lexi," I breathed, so happy to see her. We were supposed to get together later this week, but she was a breath of fresh air. "I didn't think you'd make it." She was supposed to arrive last night, but her flight was delayed. I'd been in labor and delivery with Lauren so long, I didn't even check in. My phone, wherever it was, was dead now.
"And miss my little baby sister being born? No way! There was a connecting flight to Gary and I got an Uber. I wouldn't miss this for the world." Her hug felt like a lifetime of love I'd been waiting for.
"You want to meet her?" I asked, and Lexi smiled and nodded, so I took her hand and walked over to where Amber held my precious baby girl, hovering over Lauren who slept peacefully in bed. "Lexi, meet your baby sister, Ava Joelle."
Amber willingly gave up the baby to my older daughter, and the sight brought tears to my eyes again. After everything I'd gone through with Claire and how much of Lexi's life I'd missed, I knew this second chance was going to be healing for me, and I'd love every second of it.
"She's so perfect, Dad." Lexi's big grin was priceless.
"Like her big sister… Any chance I can convince you to stay with us while you're home these two weeks?" I touched Ava's nose and blinked out a few tears.
"Count me in." I loved that she was old enough to make her own decisions and that the years of struggle with her mother hadn't affected her opinion of me.
Life had a funny way of working out in ways I least expected. In this case, there was some loss and some gain, but the silver lining shone brighter than the sun. At forty-two, I was getting a new lease on life, and I couldn’t be happier.